Ornamental plate fob wheels



Nov. 16, 1937. G. A. LYON onmusnni. PLATE FOR WHEELS Original FilTed Dec. 12, 1932 6502a: ALeser LYO Reissued Nov. 16, 193v 19 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to an ornamental plate structure for an automobile wheel and more particularly to an ornamental ringlike plate adapted to be disposed between the wheel rim and hub of an automobile wheelto cover the spokes thereof and provided with a bead for aiding in retaining the plate in proper position over the spokes.

' An object of this invention is to provide an ornamental plate structure for disposition over may be so secured in position as to not require any modification or change in the automobile wheel.

Another object of theinvention resides in the provision of an ornamental plate for disposition over the spokes of a wheel and a circular bead for aiding in retaining the plate in proper position over the spoke.

In accordance with the general features of the invention there is provided a ring-like plate having its outer periphery formed into a plurality of periphery formed to yieldably engage the hub of the wheel, the radial teeth of said ring-like plate being adapted to be concealed by a circular bead including yieldable projections for engaging the plate in proper position over the spokes between the wheel rim and the hub. 3 Other objects and features of this invention will more fully-appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a single embodiment thereof and in which I Figure 1 is a side view of my novel wheel ornamental structure showing the structure applied to a wheel;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on'substantially the line II--II of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow;

,Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the teeth on the outer periphery of the ringlike plate of my ornamental structure and Figure 4 is aJragmentary detailed view of a portion of the circular bead taken on substantially the line IV-IV of Figure 2 looking in the direction'indicated by the arrow.

The reference character l0 designates generally a wheel which includes a rim l| connected by spokes II to a wheel hub l3. This wheel structure may be of any suitable conv entional design.

The wheel rim II has an inner annular surface II which is adapted to be engaged by my novel ornamental plate structure and which rim surface the spokes of an automobile wheel and which teeth for engaging the rim and having its inner wheel rim 'to aid in the holding of the ring-like- UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE OBNMNTAL PL i' l' E FOB I George Albert Lyon, Allenhurst, N. J.

Original No. 1,949,317, dated February 27, 1934,

Serial No. 648,762, December 12, 1932. Application for reissue January 28, 1935, Serial No.

l4 terminates in an outwardly extending flange or lip it formed to engage around the head of the conventional tire. It might further be noted that the wheel rim illustrated in Figure 2 is of the so-. called drop center type which is now being used extensively in the automobile industry.

The ornamental device of my invention for disposition over the wheel spoke i2 includes a ring-like plate l8 of curved transverse cross-section and a circular bead H which is also of curved transverse cross-section. The ring-like plate IBhas its outer periphery formed into a plurality of radially extending teeth or projections I8 for yieldably engaging the rim surface It as shown in Figure 2. The inner margin of the ring-like plate It is turned back upon itself as indicated at l9 to provide a yieldable metal flange for engaging the hub l3 of the wheel.

The ring-like plate l6 may be of any suitable configuration or shape and is illustrated in the accompanying drawing as being of a transversely curved cross-section so as to be disposed in close proximity to the spokes l2 of the wheel. The outer surface of this plate as well as that of the bead may be given any desirable ornamental finish but is preferably provided with a lustrous finish such as is secured by plating it with nickel or chromium.

The circular bead ll includes underturned yieldable teeth or projections 2| for biting into the I rim surface II in close proximity to the engagement of that surface by the plate teeth I. These diagonally extending teeth or projections 2| are form of a continuous circle and is adapted to be retained in place 'on the wheel rim solely by reason of the engagement of the yieldable teeth 2| with the rim surface ll.

At the junction 2| of the toothed portion 2| and the outer portion 22 of the bead it will be noted from Figure 2 that such junction portion of the head is adapted to bear against theplate ii to aid in retaining the plate in proper position over the spokes of the wheel.

Now in the application of my ornamental device to a wheel the plate I8 is first pressed into position over the spokes of the wheel. During this operation the inwardly turned flange portion.- 2|I of the ring-like plate is brought into yielding engagement with the wheel hub I! and the radial teeth ll of theplate are flexed into retaining and biting engagement withthe rim surface ll. Thereafter the circular bead I1 ispro gressively pressed into position so that the ,ob-

lique teeth or projections 2| thereof are brought into biting engagement with the rim surface ll and the junction portion 24 of the bead is' brought into contact with the plate It as previously noted.

It should also be noted that the flexible toothed ence to the rim surface so as to apply pressure outwardly against said rim surface. Also the angle of these teeth 2| is such as to result in such teeth biting into the surface of the rim ll.

Furthermore any tendency to displace the circular bead augments the biting engagement of the teeth in the surface ll. In other words, any tendency of the bead II to spring back out of position over the surface It automatically results in the teeth 2| biting still further into the surface ll thereby insuring a tight engagement of the bead with such rim surface.

I have found from actual experience that the biting grip of the teeth II on the surface I4 is so great as to cause the tips of such teeth to become embedded in that surface. Needless to say the cooperation of the bead H with the plate II as illustrated in the accompanying drawing is such as to insure retention of the ringlike plate ii in a proper covering position over the spokes I! of the wheel.

The plate II is provided with an opening 2! (Figure 1) which is adapted to accommodate an extension connected to the valve stem of the inner tube carried by the wheel rim so that access may be had to the valve stem for the purpose of inflating and deflating the tire. Any suitable valve stem extension may be used for this purpose.

Now I desire it understood that although I have illustrated and described in detail the preferred embodiment of this invention the inven-' tion is not to be thus limited, but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. As an article of manufacture, an automobile wheel ornamental plate structure for disposition between the rim and hub of the wheel including a ring-like plate and a separate circular bead sufllciently resilient to be snapped into engagement with said rim for aiding in holding the outer margins} portion of the plate in-cooperation with the wheel rim.

2. As an article of manufacture, an automobile wheel ornamental plate structure for disposition between the rim and hub of the wheel including a ring-like plate and a separate circular bead for aiding in holding the outer marginal portion of the plate in cooperation with the wheel rim,

said bead including a plurality of projections for resiliently engaging the wheel rim.

disposed over said projections for concealing the rim.

7. The combination with an automobile wheel a separate circular bead for aiding in holding a separate circular head for aiding in holding between the rim and hub of the wheel including a ring-like plate and a separate circular bead for aiding in holding the outer marginal portion of the plate in cooperation with the wheel rim, said bead including a plurality of yieldable projections held in tight cooperation with said rim by theirv engagement with the rim, and an arched portion of curved cross-section connected to and them.

5. 'Thecombination with an automobile wheel including a rim and a hub connected by spokes,

of an ornamental cover plate for said spokes and 1 a separate circular bead resiliently pressing against said plate for aiding in holding said plate in cooperation with the wheel.

6. The combination with an automobile wheel including a rim and a hub connected by spokes, of an ornamental cover plate for said spokes and a separate circular bead for aiding in holding said plate in cooperation with the wheel, said bead being held-in tight cooperation with the wheel rim solely by reason of its engagement with including a rim and ahub connected by spokes, of an ornamental cover plate for said spokes and said plate in cooperation with the wheel, said bead having a flexible toothed portion of normally greater diameter than e surface of the wheel rim to which it is to be applied, the teeth of said portion being deflectable with respect to said rim surface and being formed to apply pressure outwardly against said surface.

8. The combination with an automobile wheel including a rim and a hub connected by spokes, of an ornamental cover plate for said spokes and said plate in cooperation with the wheel, said head having a flexible toothed portion of nor-' mally greater diameter than the surface of the wheel rim to'which it is to be applied, the teeth of said portion being deflectable with respect to said rim surface and being formed to apply pressure outwardly against said surface, said toothed portion constituting .the sole means for retaining the bead in proper position on said 11m, 1

' 9. including a rim and a hub connected by spokes of an ornamental cover plate for dispomtion over said spokes and having its outer marginal portion formed into a plurality of integral radial The combination with an automobile wheel.

projections for engagement with the wheel rim,

said projections defining the outer periphery of said plate and being resilient for yieldably biting a surface of said rim. v

10. The combination with an automobile wheel including a rim and a hub connected by spokes of an ornamental cover plate for disposition over the spokes including a plurality of integral radially extending teeth for cooperation with the wheel to aid in retaining the plate in proper position over the spokes and an outer circular bead resiliently secured to the wheel rim over said teeth.

11. The combination with an automobile wheel including a rim and a hub connected by spokes of an ornamental cover plate for disposition over the spokes including-a plurality of integral radially extending teeth for cooperation with the wheel to aid in retaining the plate in proper position over the spokes, and a circular bead for disposition over said teeth toconceal the same.

12. The combination with an automobile wheel including a rim and a hub connected bys'pokes, of an ornamental cover plate for disposition over said spokes and having its outer marginal portion provided with a plurality of integral radial teeth for engagement with the wheel rim. and a circular bead disposed over said teeth for aiding in holding the outer marginal portion of the plate in cooperation with the wheel rim and for concealing the teeth on said plate.

13. The combination with an automobile wheel including a rim and a hub connected by spokes, of an ornamental cover plate tor disposition over said spokes and having its outer marginal portion formed into a plurality oi integral radial 'teeth on its outer periphery for engagement with the wheel rim, said plate having its inner marginal portion formed for yieldable engagement with the hub of the wheel.

14. As an article oi manufacture, an automobile wheel ornamental plate for disposition between the rim and the hub of the wheel, said plate comprising a ring having its outer perhheral. portion formed into a plurality of radially extending teeth for cooperation with the wheel rim and having its inner marginal portion flanged to yieldably engage the hub of the wheel.

15. As an article of manufacture, an automobile wheel ornamental plate structure for disposition between the rim and hub of the'wheel including a ring-like plate and a circular bead for aiding'ih holding the outer, marginal portion of the plate in cooperation with the wheel rim, sald bead being disposed over the outer side of said plate and in yieldable engagement therewith.

16. In combination, a wheel including a rim portion, a hub portion, and a connecting or spoke portion between the rim and hub portions, an

ornamental disk for concealing the outer side of the spoke portion and having spring means to directly engage a part 0! the wheel and retain the disk in adjusted position on the wheel when forced into retaining engagement therewith from the outer side of the wheel whilethe wheel is attached to the vehicle, said disk having associated with its outer marginal portion a ring-like ornamental bead for increasing the overall diameter 0! the disk.

17. In combination, a wheel including a rim portion, a hub portion, and a connecting or spoke portion between the rim and hub portions, an ornamental disk for concealing the outer side of the spoke portion and having spring means to directly engage a part of the wheel and retain the disk in adjusted position on the wheen when forced into retaining engagement therewith from theouter side of the wheel while the wheel is attached to the vehicle, said disk having associated withfijts outer marginal portion a ring-like ornamental bead for increasing the overall diameter of the disk, said beadha'ving resilient proiections for resiliently engaging the rim portion 01' the wheel.

18. In combination. a vehicle wheel including a rim portion, a hub portion, and a connecting portion between the rim and hub portions. an ornamental disk 01' stamped metallic sheet material for concealing the outer side of the connecting portion, and an annular ornamental moulding assoelated with re outer margin of the disk and disposed'between the disk and the rim edge for in.- creasing the overall diameter 01 the disk said moulding having concealed resilient means for yieldably engaging engaging a surface of the rim portion of the wheel. I

19. As an article of manufacture, an ornamental disk otsheet metal for disposition between the rim and hub portions or a wheel to cover completely the space separating such portions, said disk having associated with its outer marginal portion a ring-like annular ornamental V bead for increasing the overall diameter of the disk and including concealed resilient means for en aging a portion ot-the wheel. I

GEORGE AIBERT LYON. 

